Two with ties to Okaloosa County competing in America's Got Talent

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 08:01 PM.

Two women with ties to Okaloosa County are among 36 military wives competing in NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

The American Military Spouses Choir is made up of wives of service members from throughout the United States.

Melissa Gomez, a family readiness support assistant with the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), said the choir never dreamed of making it on the show.

"We were freaking out," said Gomez, who lives in Crestview. "We never thought it would ever become what it became now."

The choir has made the semifinal round. They should perform on the show again in a few weeks.

Kendra McMullen, who lived in Fort Walton Beach for 22 years, said the competition definitely was not as intense in the beginning, she said.

Most of the choir members live near Washington, D.C., including McMullen, whose husband is stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Choir members who live in other locations practice over Skype, Gomez said.

"I think it works for us because our life is on Skype," Gomez said.

In rehearsals they forget ranks, military branches and uniform colors.

"We are all just military wives," McMullen said.

Although continuing to perform at smaller, local events would have been easier, the choir realized the show spread their message to more people.

The group promotes using music therapy for wounded soldiers. Music has healing properties and should be put into more programs, Gomez said. They also want to encourage other military wives to make their voices heard.

"In my mind, the military spouse used to be the rank-and-file sister," McMullen said. "You weren’t seen, you weren’t heard, you were just the silent backbone.

"You don’t have to be silent anymore. You can actually have a voice in how you feel and what you want for your family."

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Two women with ties to Okaloosa County are among 36 military wives competing in NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

The American Military Spouses Choir is made up of wives of service members from throughout the United States.

Melissa Gomez, a family readiness support assistant with the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), said the choir never dreamed of making it on the show.

"We were freaking out," said Gomez, who lives in Crestview. "We never thought it would ever become what it became now."

The choir has made the semifinal round. They should perform on the show again in a few weeks.

Kendra McMullen, who lived in Fort Walton Beach for 22 years, said the competition definitely was not as intense in the beginning, she said.

Most of the choir members live near Washington, D.C., including McMullen, whose husband is stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Choir members who live in other locations practice over Skype, Gomez said.

"I think it works for us because our life is on Skype," Gomez said.

In rehearsals they forget ranks, military branches and uniform colors.

"We are all just military wives," McMullen said.

Although continuing to perform at smaller, local events would have been easier, the choir realized the show spread their message to more people.

The group promotes using music therapy for wounded soldiers. Music has healing properties and should be put into more programs, Gomez said. They also want to encourage other military wives to make their voices heard.

"In my mind, the military spouse used to be the rank-and-file sister," McMullen said. "You weren’t seen, you weren’t heard, you were just the silent backbone.

"You don’t have to be silent anymore. You can actually have a voice in how you feel and what you want for your family."